Author: Teresa Gilmore

I've been working with finds since I finished my degree in 2002. Although on all university excavations, I tended to end up in the Finds Hut as opposed to out in the trenches with everyone else. Once I finished my degree, I started working for Cotswold Archaeology within their finds department. It was during my time there, that I gathered all the knowledge about the different types of pottery. Unfortunately due to the credit crunch, I was made redundant in June 2009. However this turned out to be very well timed, as I started working within the PAS West Midlands from August of that year. I left the West Midlands Team in March 2011 to cover Vanessa Oakden (Cheshire & Merseyside FLO)'s maternity leave, which was quite good fun and it made a nice change being a bit further north and seeing a different range of finds. Following that, I briefly went back into commercial archaeology as the Finds & Archives Officer for Wardell Armstrong Archaeology, based in Carlisle. However I never felt at home that far up north, so I couldn't wait to return back to the West Midlands PAS team. I have worked with material from a wide variety of different sites and dates, from Neolithic collared urns and Bronze Age socketed axes to Iron Age log ladders (that required lifting from within their 6 foot deep pit) to Roman military finds out in Bulgaria to Post medieval urban deposits and finds. I am more than happy to look at any pottery sherds or other 'eyes only' finds. Although I will admit that I am more fond of both Roman and medieval finds than pot sherds nowadays. At the moment I must admit I've got a particular interest in Medieval strap fittings, in particular the King's Head belt buckles / strap clasps.

Latest Treasure from Staffordshire

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

Today (Wednesday 8th September) saw five more cases officially declared Treasure. All have been found through responsible metal detecting and have been reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. All cases have significantly increased our archaeological knowledge of life within Staffordshire.

A photo showing three fragments of coins. The top one is part of a Groat of Henry VIII, second coinage. The middle one is part of a groat of Henry VIII's third coinage and the lower one is part of a halfpenny of Henry VIII's second coinage.
2020T108 Three fragments of coins from the reign of Henry VIII, originally part of a larger coin hoard found in 2015.

2020T108 – A small addenda to an earlier coin hoard, 2015T702, found in the Lichfield district. Here we have two pieces of Groats and one piece of a halfpenny, all issued as part of the second coinage of Henry VIII. The earlier hoard consisted both of coins and fragmentary pieces like this one. Including these fragments into the original hoard, the hoard now has a face value of 7s, 4 1/2 d, roughly equivalent to £160 today. At the time, this could have covered 12 days wage for a skilled tradesman or one stone of wool.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery wish to acquire this addenda to the Rugeley coin hoard.

A group photograph showing the more complete coins from the coin hoard 2015T702. All coins visible belong to the reign of Henry VIII.
2015T702, the original Henry VIII coin hoard from the Lichfield area.
A photograph depicting the top, bottom and side photos of the gold sheet 2020T257. The lowest shot shows the front of the gold sheet with six filigree conical spirals.
2020T257 – An incomplete seventh century gold sheet with filigree decoration.

2020T257 – An incomplete gold sheet with filigree decoration, dating to the 7th Century AD, found in the Lichfield district. Gold sheets with filigree scrollwork are typical decorative elements of 7th century Anglo-Saxon metalwork, ornamenting high-status pieces including weapon-hilts. This piece was found c.12 km from the Staffordshire Hoard that consisted of gold, garnet and filigree weapon and helmet fittings and ecclesiastical symbols. Other objects found nearby carrying scroll filigree decoration include a possible tweezer cap from Elford, Staffordshire (2017 T173, WMID-C2969E). Notably, this gold sheet was found near a copper-alloy die stamp with Style II or an interlacing loop decoration, Schlaufenornamentik (LIN-490483). The conical spiral filigree wires are uncommon in early medieval (Anglo-Saxon) filigree with parallels from late Roman, Viking and Irish metalwork including the Tara brooch from Co. Meath (Fern and Whitfield 2019, 160). Fern and Whitfield propose that the conical spirals from the Staffordshire Hoard might be ‘a missing link’ with Irish filigree (Fern and Whitfield 2019, p.166). Perhaps then, this example found in the wider hinterland of the Staffordshire hoard site may also form part of this story.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery wish to acquire this find.

A photograph showing the enamelled exterior of the finger ring and part of the interior inscription (TRY AN[ ])
2020T296 – An enamelled Post Medieval finger ring, bearing the inscription TRY AND TRVS.

2020T296 – A Post medieval finger ring with enamelled cells on the exterior and an inscription on the interior, reading : TRY AND TRVS. The enamel cells are hexagonal in shape, and the surviving enamel is either turquoise or dark blue. No parallel to this inscription has been found on the PAS database. Inscriptions done in capital Roman style letters tend to be of 16th to 17th Centuries date. Italic inscriptions become popular during the mid 17th Centuries.

Tamworth Castle Museum wish to acquire this finger ring.

A group photograph showing the obverses and reverses of the five coins that comprise this Iron Age coin hoard. On the top row are the obverses of the two gold staters, each with a stylised horse. Below that are the obverses of the three silver units, again each with a stylised horse but also the inscription VEP. Beneath those are the reverses of the two gold staters and then the lowest row are the reverses of the three silver units.
2020T576 – Photograph showing the obverses and reverses of most of the Iron Age coin hoard.

2020T576 – This is a lovely little Iron Age coin hoard found within the Lichfield district. It consists of two gold staters and four silver units, all associated with the Corieltavi tribe. This is the third coin hoard retrieved from Staffordshire.
Iron Age coins are also relatively rare single finds in the county, with recorded examples mostly from the North Eastern or Western British Iron Age coinage traditions. The county can therefore be seen as slightly peripheral to the main North Eastern coin producing area (centred around Lincolnshire and surrounding counties), but this is in keeping with the observed distribution pattern of North Eastern coins from hoards.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery wish to acquire this coin hoard.

Photograph showing the obverse and reverse of the penny of Ecgberht of Kent. A single piercing is present in the centre, showing that it has been modified and removed from circulation as a coin.

2020T1043 – A single pierced penny of Ecgberht of Kent, minted in Canterbury, found in South Staffordshire. Ordinarily single silver coins are not considered to be Treasure but as this one has been pierced at the centre, with a notch on the opposing edge, indicating that the coin had been attached to something by tying between the piercing and the edge at that location, turning it into an artefact and removing it from circulation as a coin. This coin is also of note as the first coin Ecgberht of Kent recorded by the PAS. Ecgberht of Kent is recorded in a charter confirmed by Offa of Mercia in 765 AD.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery wish to acquire this modified coin.

Today was the final set of Treasure inquests to be held by Andrew Haigh, Coroner for South Staffordshire, before he retires at the end of October. Enjoy your retirement, we will miss you, Andrew.

Finds Day Survey – Results

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our Finds Day survey. We had 45 answers which has given us plenty to think about.

There were several reasons for doing this survey. The first one being that Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is closed for a significant length of time, so one of our main venues is unavailable. Also, traditionally we used to attend metal detecting club meetings in the evenings, but as more and more clubs move online, we suspect that this option may no longer be available. So we wanted to hear your views on where and when you would be happy to meet with us to record your finds.

Venues

The Top Three venues were:
1. The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent.
2. Museum of Cannock Chase.
3. Herbert Museum, Coventry.

Just below these were Thinktank Museum, Birmingham and The Hub, St Mary’s Lichfield. Other suggestions for venues that were made included: The Nicholson Museum, Leek and the Motorcycle Museum, Solihull.

Chart showing the different number of votes we received for each proposed venue.

We are liaising with both the Museum of Cannock Chase and the Herbert Museum, and both are keen for us to run Finds Days at their venues. Dates should be announced shortly. 

There was a request for postal submission of finds. Unfortunately, especially at present due to Birmingham Museum being closed for rewiring and both Victoria and Teresa predominately working from home, postal submission is not recommended. We can not guarantee safe receipt of your finds.

Finds Days will be continuing at the Potteries Museum from October onwards on a bimonthly basis. Finds Days will also happen at Thinktank Museum and also at Aston Hall.

Metal Detecting Club meetings

It goes without saying, that once normal evening club meetings resume, Victoria and Teresa will return to our previous 3 monthly attendance. 

The clubs we used to attend are: Dudley Metal Detecting Club; Coventry Heritage Society; Kings of Mercia Metal Detecting Society; Bloxwich Research and History Society; Tamworth and Lichfield Metal Detecting Club; Three Spires Search Society and North Staffordshire Metal Detecting club.

Requests were made for us to attend the following clubs: Secret Searchers; Congleton Metal detecting Club; Dig It Warwickshire; Go detecting Midlands; West Midlands Metal Detecting Group; Sovereign Metal Detecting Club and KC Rallies.

Congleton Club falls within the remit for Heather Beeton (Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester FLO). Likewise Dig IT Warwickshire falls within Dr Susheela Burford’s area (Worcestershire and Warwickshire) and Sovereign falls within Peter Reavill’s area (Herefordshire and Shropshire). Please contact them with regards to setting up Finds days with those clubs.

If the club leaders for the other clubs (Secret Searchers; Go Detecting Midlands; West Midlands Metal Detecting Group and KC Rallies) would like to drop Victoria or Teresa an email, we can sort out attendance at the club meetings.

Days

Unsurprisingly the most popular day requested was Saturday with Sunday being the second favourite. 

Chart showing the number of votes we received for the different days of the week.

We are hoping to run the Museum of Cannock Chase Finds Days and possibly the Herbert Museum Finds Days at a weekend. But Finds Days at the Potteries Museum, Thinktank and Aston Hall will remain on a weekday.

Times

60% of answers indicated that morning would be the preferred time. 

When at a museum, we are limited by the hours they are open, which is often 10am to 4pm/5pm. Most Museum Finds days tend to be run all day, giving people plenty of options on what time to book in.

Finds Day Survey

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

Traditionally, in Staffordshire and the West Midlands, we have held Finds Days at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent. 

Unfortunately due to essential rewiring work that needs to be carried out through 2021 and probably longer (It’s a big building), Birmingham Museum is closed to the public and unavailable. Our secondary choice in Birmingham is Thinktank Science Museum at Millennium Point, about a 10 minute walk from Moor Street Station. However this option may not be prove popular to anyone driving in due to the Clean Air Zone that came into force on 1st June.

So, we would like your views on where you would like us to hold Finds Days in this post pandemic world. We can not guarantee that all venues will be used but it is useful for us to know which venues would be better attended.

We are still hoping to attend Metal Detecting club meetings when they restart but we understand that that may not be any time soon.

So please could you fill out a short survey to let us know your preferred venues, and what day/times would be better for you. The survey will remain active until 1st July 2021 to give you plenty of chance to respond but the results will be monitored as they come in.

https://forms.office.com/r/5g0VfWnUNa
https://forms.office.com/r/5g0VfWnUNa

Staffordshire Treasure Cases in 2018

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

During 2018, 432 finds were recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme as being found in Staffordshire. Out of these, 24 were classified as Treasure under the requirements of the Treasure Act 1996. 

These 24 cases included 7 finger rings, 4 coin hoards, 2 mounts, a button, a spoon, a brooch, a bell and a strap end. 

Here is a bit more information on 3 of those cases.

An early medieval zoomorphic mount made out of silver
An Early Medieval mount of ninth to tenth centuries dating.

2018T903 LEIC-AB9BA6. An Early Medieval mount of ninth to tenth Centuries dating. This mount was identical to one found in 2016 (2016T913 LEIC-1DCF5E). Sue Brunnings (British Museum Curator) commented that:

The function of this object is uncertain. Several socketed zoomorphic terminals dating to the early medieval period are known, all fairly different in style. Those recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme Database or via the Treasure Act include: West Ilsley, West Berkshire (BERK-07A2A4, 2005 T167); Burton-in-Kendal area (LANCUM-E89D32, 2013 T17); Brant Broughton and Stragglethorpe, Lincolnshire (LIN-F0DD46); Frolesworth, Leicestershire (LEIC-B5B737); Barrowby, Lincolnshire (LIN-DA87D8); Lambeth, London (LON-EFCF31); and Kilham, East Yorkshire (Treasure Annual Report 2003, no. 129, 2003 T273). Some are interpreted as decorative fittings from the tips of drinking-horns although the current piece appears rather too small and narrow to have fulfilled that purpose. Its flat form also likens it to a series of artefacts known as ‘aestels’, which have been widely interpreted as manuscript pointers. A small number are in the form of animal’s heads, but are typically much more elaborate in nature, extensively decorated and made from gold.

“The decorative style of the terminal bears resemblance to the Trewhiddle style, dated to the ninth to early tenth centuries. Zoomorphic terminals on Trewhiddle style strap-ends bear very similar circular ears with containing chevron motifs, and panels of decoration on the brow. This provides a clue for dating.”

Sue Brunning adds that the discovery of a second, virtually identical, piece near the findspot of the original piece may be evidence that the two were a pair. This could hint towards a possible function, for instance as dress accessories perhaps attached to the ends of cords or laces, similar to a strap-end.

This case has been acquired by the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

A Post medieval gold signet ring, with three candlesticks and two initials on the device.
A Post medieval signet ring, with three candlesticks and two initials on the device.

2018T311 DENO-B87439, A post medieval signet finger of 17th Century dating. The setting is inscribed with the capital letters G and L set in between three candlesticks. The central candlestick is larger than its flanking candlesticks. All the candlesticks are stylistically the same, depicting a flat base, two large collars and five smaller collars and a socket, which holds the candle.

Phil Hughes (Finds Liaison Assistant) stated that: The use of capital letters, and the heavy design of the ring, indicates a dating of roughly 1600-1650. Other gold signet/seal rings of this date are found on the PAS database, for example 2014 T520 (DOR-2334D9), dated around 1600-1700.

The candlestick design on the bezel does not appear to be from a coat of arms, but was presumably a personal device used by the owner. The ring was found approximately 150m from Casterne Hall, and the owner, Mr Charles Hurt, reports ‘In 1670 my direct ancestors Nicholas Hurt and Elizabeth Lowe married, linking the estates of Casterne and Alderwasley in Derbyshire. The Lowes and their ancestors had been given Alderwasley by the King in the 13th Century. So one obvious candidate for the ‘L’ on the ring is Lowe. A son of Thomas Lowe of Alderwasley (d. 1415) was Geoffrey Lowe (d. 1451) but he would have been too early for the ring.’

The Potteries Museum withdrew from this acquisition so it has been returned to the finder.

An Early medieval zoomorphic copper alloy strap end with a silver rivet, and a hook attachment on the reverse.
An Early medieval zoomorphic strap end with a hook attachment on the reverse.

2018T143 WMID-5AC3B1 An Early Medieval strap end with a rear hook attachment. Victoria Allnatt (FLO for West Staffordshire & South West Midlands) commented: This strap-end is one of a small but growing corpus with projections, lugs or hooks on their reverse. These have been collected and categorised by Green (2017). Usually the feature on the reverse was soldered on after the initial object was produced. Only a small number have integral attachments like this one, including PAS database GLO-8C25F2 (with a lug rather than a hook) and two others illustrated in Green (2017, p. 3, fig. 8), one of which has a hook. Green suggests the hook was added to strap-ends to make them more useful instead of being a purely decorative accessory. The hook allowed the straps to be tensioned, linked or held together. Green classifies these objects as strap-end hybrids, Hooked Type 1 with integral projections. Regular strap-ends similar to the present example, with zoomorphic terminal and occasionally with silver inlays, fall under Thomas’ (2003) Class A and have been dated to the ninth to tenth centuries.

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery acquired this find.

A video summary of other Treasure cases from the West Midlands region is available to watch here

West Midlands Treasure 2018

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

On Monday 21st March, the 2018 Treasure Annual Report was laid in front of Parliament.

In ‘normal’ years, the British Museum normally hold a press conference to show off some of the nicer finds and important Treasure cases of that year. However due to Covid-19 restrictions, we had to do things slightly differently this year.

As such, I have created a video showing most of the 2018 Treasure cases found in the West Midlands counties (Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Coventry, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent). In the video, you can see a picture of the Treasure case, what number it was and it’s database record, where it was found and equally what has happened to it in the cases that have been concluded.

I created a second video with some of the more interesting non-Treasure finds that were recorded during 2018 as a reminder that we are not just interested in recording Treasure finds but anything archaeological older than 300 years.

I hope you enjoy them.
Teresa

Early Medieval strap-end. Record ID WMID-5AC3B1 (Birmingham Museums Trust, License CC-BY).

Guest Post: Abigail Taylor, Potteries Museum

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

I believe that the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is a hugely important archaeological resource and this is something that I wanted to demonstrate with my PhD research. I have recently completed my PhD for which my thesis was entitled ‘Unstructured Data and Archaeology: The Use of Large
Datasets in Archaeological Research’. When I started my research, at The University of Birmingham with my supervisor Dr Roger White, I was looking to continue the research I did for my undergraduate dissertation. My dissertation studied the continuation of La Téne art into the Romano British period. I began my postgraduate research by considering a similar study of finds across the Romano British to Anglo-Saxon transition period. However, upon downloading the PAS data, it became apparent that this was a research project within itself. The vast quantities of data and remaining debates about its usefulness made it an important topic of research.

My thesis demonstrates the use of unstructured data more broadly and PAS specifically in archaeological research. The PAS is still occasionally ignored or disparaged by archaeologists and relationships with metal detectorists are not always positive across the board. There are still research projects which omit PAS data or use it in very specific ways. I wanted to test the
effectiveness of research using the PAS database on a broad scale and determine whether it could be used to go further than the studies of land use and settlement patterns often seen.

I approached the research methodology in two parts. First, an entire dataset approach to determine long-term and nationwide trends. This also produced a control dataset to determine which areas and time periods deviated from the broad trends. Whereas broad PAS trends may more accurately reflect modern recovery and reporting, deviation from these is more likely to represent genuine historical data. For example, on the whole the finds in the PAS database are concentrated in lowland areas to the south and east. Statistical analysis, in the form of a Chi-squared test, was carried out on the number of finds in each of these ‘zones’ to determine that the difference was statistically significant.

Map illustrating the distribution of PAS finds
A map of all finds in the PAS database

The second element to the methodology sought to go beyond distribution maps and assess the types of finds in a particular case study period and how they differ or are similar across England and Wales. The Romano British to Anglo-Saxon transition period made an excellent case study period as it was a time of great change in the archaeological record and there is still much debate as to the nature of the transition. I reduced the PAS data to a case study period of 300 – 600 AD. The fact that the PAS database is so vast means that it has greater statistical power. This was used to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in the makeup of finds assemblages across various zones and periods. The overall pattern of finds suggested that, whereas the Roman finds assemblages differed across the boundary of highland and lowland, the Anglo-Saxon boundary was further east. The east is characterised by decorative items such as brooches and the west by more domestic type finds. Further, there appeared to be some difference in finds between the east and
west of the Roman province of Britannia Prima. One possible outlier identified was Staffordshire, which is located in the western zone but had a high proportion of Anglo-Saxon finds. Finds such as the Staffordshire Hoard possibly suggests that high status Anglo-Saxon metalwork was, in fact, used further west than currently thought.

Fragment of an Early Medieval gold and garnet cross pendant (ID: KENT-9D33EB) and gold bracteate (ID: KENT-0163F3) from Kent demonstrating the new, decorative style of material culture that dominates the assemblage in the east.

Early Medieval PAS finds in Staffordshire

Some examples of Anglo-Saxon finds from Staffordshire: a copper alloy lozenge-shaped strip brooch (ID: WMID-054B67), a fragment of copper-alloy gilded square headed brooch (ID: WMID-922C17). 

The conclusion of my research was that the PAS is clearly an incredibly useful tool in analysis of the archaeology of broad areas and time periods. Other research into the use of the PAS such as that by Katherine Robbins and Tom Brindle has focussed on the PAS being more useful for small-scale
research. For example, Katherine Robbins discusses the use of techniques such as analysis of field rewalking and specific land use. I wanted to focus on the use of the PAS on a broad, nationwide scale as the sheer volume of finds in the database appeared to lend itself uniquely to being able to assess
nationwide trends with statistical analysis. 

For the case study period, the data could go some way towards answering specific cultural questions. For example, it identified several zones of material culture assemblages based on artefact type and tests of statistical significance. The data mainly provided a coarse grained overview of
regionality during the Roman to Anglo-Saxon transition. Several limitations on using the data at this scale were identified. The lack of secure dating, artefact type identification and association with other archaeological material affected the ability to conduct a more detailed analysis using the data. The more the PAS data was reduced, the greater the effect of these limitations. In effect, the greatest strengths of the PAS database appeared to be those of all large datasets. That is, its variety, velocity (the rate of new finds being added) and veracity (large datasets average out errors more). In
order to produce a more fine-grained analysis of the case study period, it was deemed that further, more structured, data would be required. One of the areas I identified for further study was the possibility of constructing a brand new methodology for using the PAS in conjunction with excavated
material.

Admiral George Anson – A Staffordshire Pirate

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore
By Attributed to Thomas Hudson – http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/13991.html Royal Museums Greenwichhttp://www.rlcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/georgeanson.jpg (dead link), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3937665

George Anson, son of William Anson and Isabella Carrier was born at Shugborough Manor, Staffordshire in 1697. Aged 15, he entered the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession.
At the age of 19 in 1716, he was promoted to Lieutenant, serving aboard the HMS Hampshire. During the rest of his naval career, he served on several other ships before being promoted to Commodore in 1737

This was when he was first ordered to attack Spanish possessions in South America. Spain controlled most of South America, the Caribbean and the Pacific and was becoming very rich from the proceeds. Naturally, as Britain was at war with Spain, the government wanted to get some of the action (and money).

George Anson took control of a squadron of eight ships, with the mission to attack Spanish ships and plunder them for their riches. In 1743, he struck gold. He captured the Nuestra Senora de Covadonga, off Cape Espiritu Santo. He secured 1,313, 843 pieces of eight (spanish dollars). This treasure was taken back to England, handed over in 1744. This victory not only set him up for life, but also gained him serious political standing. He became a MP for Hedon, Yorkshire and was also promoted eventually to Admiral.

The captured silver was passed over to the Royal Mint, using it to issue new coins in 1746. Crowns, Half Crowns, Shillings and sixpences struck that year, include ‘LIMA’ in the obverse legend. This was in tribute to Admiral George Anson’s success.

Three of these coins have been recorded on the PAS database.

YORYM-6188D1, a shilling found in Burghwallis, Doncaster.
SUSS-8BBF63, a sixpence found in Firle, Sussex.

WILT-86B9BB, a half crown found in Hindon, Wiltshire.

Shugborough, Admiral George Anson’s birthplace, is available to visit. It is now a popular National Trust site.

50 Finds from Staffordshire

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

The latest in Amberley Publishing’s 50 Finds series is due to be published on Sunday 15th April 2018. This volume focuses on some of the exciting finds that have been found in Staffordshire since 1997, when the Portable Antiquities Scheme started.

50 finds were selected from over 12,000 recorded, and are very much a personal choice by Teresa. They reflect the range and diversity of archaeological finds made within the county, from Palaeolithic quartzite handaxes through to Post Medieval skillet handles. Most are still in private ownership but some have been acquired by local museums and are available to view, with thanks to the Treasure Act 1996. Some finds made have been of national, if not international importance and continue to rewrite the history books.

Teresa would like to thank all the metal detectorists and members of the public who have recorded finds made in Staffordshire with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Without you, this book could not have been written. Please keep up the good work and help us to carry on rewriting Staffordshire (and the country’s history) by continuing to discover new finds, along with their grid references.

To find out which finds have been chosen, you will to have to buy or read the book!

The book is available from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Waterstones, WH Smith & Amberley Publishing.

https://www.amberley-books.com/discover-books/local-history/area/staffordshire/50-finds-from-staffordshire.html

Congratulations to Aimee! BMT Student Volunteer of the Year

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

Every year, Birmingham Museums Trust chose one student volunteer out of all the many who volunteer for us, to be selected as our BMT Student Volunteer of the Year.

This year, Victoria & I’s volunteer, Aimee Hinds won the award!

Victoria nominated her for the award, to reflect the hardwork and commitment she has shown to the PAS West Midlands team, whilst still studying for her Masters at Leicester University. She has been part of the team for over a year now, picking up finds identification, recording and photography very quickly and over that time has recorded nearly 100 finds.

 

She was presented with her certificate at one of BMT’s heritage sites, Soho House, during a volunteer Explore BMT day.

Congratulations again Aimee, on a well deserved win!

20, 000 records milestone

Posted on by Teresa Gilmore

This week, the WMID office created our 20,000th record since the start of the PAS. The bulk of those records are coins and pot sherds but amongst all those records are some wonderful finds, some of which have contributed to a change in archaeological understanding of the area.

Outstanding finds include:

But there are many other gems within.

To highlight a few, each member of the team has chosen a couple of finds as their favourites and here they are:

Victoria enjoyed recording this Roman copper-alloy helmet cheek-piece discovered near the Roman settlement known as Pennocrucium, which survives now only as buried archaeological features. These are rare finds to be recorded on the database.

Not only was it exciting to record because of its rarity but it also allowed further a deeper understanding of the Roman landscape of the area around Watling street (A5) and the Roman fortress that may have once been situated in the area. Another helmet cheek-piece recorded by The Portable Antiquities Scheme is part of 33 fragments, with 34 smaller fragments found in association which was subsequently restored and is now referred to as the Crosby Garrett helmet.

 

Victoria’s other favourite object recorded recently is this copper alloy vessel mount of Late Iron Age / early Roman date, circa AD 50 – 200.

The moulded swirling design is stunning and resembles other decoration seen on objects with La Tene motifs. It is suggested by the experts at the British Museum and our national finds advisor Sally that it was used as a vessel mount or perhaps a harness fitting. We do not see many objects from the Iron Age in Staffordshire, if we do they are likely coins or brooches so this really stood out as something special.

 

 

Amongst all the finds that Teresa has dealt, the two she has chosen are: A modern silver set of dentures. Although the PAS generally records finds older than 300 years, with more recent finds being at the local FLOs discretion, finds like this can tell us a lot about personal hygiene and appearance. This set of dentures was manufactured between AD 1800 and AD 1930s, using a low grade silver. A couple of human teeth still survive in situ. Although animal or ivory teeth were used, human teeth were preferable as they lasted longer in the harsh environment of the mouth. These teeth could come from a variety of sources, including off the battlefield (aka Waterloo teeth) or the Poor donating them for money.

 

 

The other find she has chosen, is slightly older in date, Medieval, around 1350 to 1400 AD, a decorative two part strap clasp. These figurative strap clasps are a personal favourite as they form a side research project. This type of strap fitting is relatively unusual in the published literature, especially from stratified contexts, but over 150 have been recorded on the PAS database. This has enabled several different types to be identified, from a bird like type, to an animal head and several versions of a human head.

 

 

Jade’s favourite two are:

WMID-AE6ED4– an incomplete annular brooch, of early thirteenth century dating. This was one of the first finds that she recorded and therefore it really stands out. The shape of the brooch is interesting and amazing that the paste that would have secured each gem in a collet has survived. It made her wonder whether any of the gems did survive and where were they now. This one started an interest in brooches and although she has recorded many more to the database, none stand out quite like this one.

WMID-AE0427– A complete lead alloy papal bulla, issued by Pope Martin V (AD1417 to AD1431), dating to the period AD1417 to AD 1431. It stood out as it was the first Papal Bulla she had seen, made her curious to know the details of the message that this bulla sealed. Some of the damage that this item received may have been due to it being used as an amulet, as has been postulated. This secondary usage would have given the bulla another purpose entirely and it may have continued to have been relevant in daily life for a much longer period of time, possibly even outlasting the Pope who issued it.

Bob has selected these two:

WMID-38FE5C – Though there are several more complete and more decorative examples to be seen on the database, I love this object because, despite its damage, it still demonstrates the potential beauty of what is essentially a practical item. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the dress hook was something that you might only catch a glimpse of among items of clothing, depending on how it was worn and used. For example, attached (using sewn tapes) to a garment, the hook might be used to hold up the garment hem when walking in wet conditions. Other ways in which dress hooks may have been used would be to attach the bottom of a shawl to a belt (to prevent it flapping in the breeze), or to support hosiery (much in the same way as the more modern suspenders).

WMID-300551 – This pendant and others like it reminded him of the gloriously romantic pictures of chivalrous knights performing their ‘deeds of derring do’. Their horses were always resplendent in highly decorative livery, proudly displaying the arms of their lord. With Teresa & Victoria’s help, a little research showed that the decipherable details of the arms appearing on this example pendant corresponded greatly to the heraldry depicted for William III de Cantilupe, lord of Abergavenny. Though this gentleman possibly never performed any great deed, it is still possible to imagine him astride his great horse with this shiny new pendant side by side with others on the horse’s harness.

Emily Freeman, our current West Midlands Headley Trust Intern has chosen:

WMID-D165CB–  The combination of three coloured enamels on this button and loop fastener make it bright and striking, definitely one of the stand out finds that she have recorded.  The slightly clumsy appearance adds to its charm, the enamel has been dripped onto the central square accidentally.

WMID-F6B912– a penny of Offa, King of Mercia. She enjoys recording coins and although this is not one she recorded, it is an exciting find because we are based in the old kingdom of Mercia. Offa’s dyke famously runs the length of Wales and The Marches, an attempt to keep the welsh tribes from attacking the Mercian kingdom. This coin has a bust on the obverse and the legend OFFA REX identifies the king. It is always amazing to find Early Medieval coins so this one is certainly a stand out record!

And drumroll time, our 20,000 record is: WMID-869918. A slightly clipped half groat of Henry VI, issued between 1422 and 1427 as part of the Annulet coinage and minted in Calais.

 

Well done and thank you to all members of the WMID team, past and present for their hard work, so we could achieve this milestone! Time for a celebration!